Te Awamutu Sustainability Champions 2014/15

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7. Consider the social and environmental impacts in your supply chain and procurement choices: The
environmental and social impacts of the products/services a business supplies is very rarely limited to just the
operations taking place on site. Considering the lifecycle of your products and services, and reviewing your supply
chain, offers great opportunity to improve business sustainability. For example, choosing to purchase resources that
are sourced locally, ethically and/or sustainably may result in fewer unintended social and environmental issues
when compared with conventional alternatives.
8. Create (and support!) a sustainability representative or sustainability team: Assigning someone or several
people with the responsibility of managing and working to find solutions to your business’s environmental impacts
can help ensure sustainability is an ongoing project rather than an idea that struggles to take off. It is important,
however, to ensure that a sustainability representative or team receives adequate support from management and
staff, in order for them to be effective.
9. Engage all staff: Business sustainability works best if the onus is not on just one or a few people. Goals can
be reached faster and change become more ingrained by ensuring all staff are engaged with the company’s
sustainability commitments and goals, and all staff are aware of their responsibilities regarding good environmental
practice.
10. Keep it fun! Sustainability should not be a burden. It is an opportunity to improve operations, financial
performance and the impact of your business on the local and wider community. Choosing to engage with issues
that you and other staff care about, and developing initiatives that are engaging and meaningful means they can be
integrated into normal business practice more easily.
The Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce has received funding from the
Waste Minimisation Fund for local businesses to receive a free waste and
sustainability evaluation. Camilla Carty-Melis, a sustainability specialist,
can visit your workplace and talk to you about your business and various
components of your operations. She will then write a personalised
sustainability report, including recommendations suited to your needs. To talk
to Camilla about business sustainability or arrange for her to carry out a free
sustainability evaluation, please email or
ring 0223 410 643.
MORE INFORMATION
Anna D’Arcy
Business and corporate sustainability advisor
Waikato Regional Council
anna.d
0800 800 401